South Carolina: From solid D to solid R

[DabbingSanta]

South Carolina presidential election results with brief summary (1940-1980). This was the time frame when SC (along with much of the South) went from being a Democrat stronghold to a Republican one. Inspired by MillennialModerate's thread.

1940: Solid South prevails

Roosevelt (D) 96%
Willkie (R) 4%

1944: First signs of fissure with national Democrats

Roosevelt (D) 88%
No candidate (Dix) 8%
Dewey (R) 4%

1948: Southern Democrats split at convention, field own candidate

Thurmond (Dix) 72%
Truman (D) 24%
Dewey (R) 4%

1952: First competitive election, Eisenhower nearly wins as "Independent Republican"

Stevenson (D) 51%
Eisenhower (I) 49%

1956: Three way race

Stevenson (D) 45%
Unpledged elector (Dix) 30%
Eisenhower (R) 25%

1960: Close race between Kennedy and Nixon. Byrd/unpledged electors are not on the ballot

Kennedy (D) 51%
Nixon (R) 49%

1964: First Republican win in 88 years. Conservative Sen. Goldwater beats incumbent Pres. Johnson

Goldwater (R) 59%
Johnson (D) 41%

1968: Three way race leads to another Republican victory

Nixon (R) 38%
Wallace (I) 32%
Humphrey (D) 30%

1972: Landslide Republican victory, and last election where all counties went for same candidate

Nixon (R) 71%
McGovern (D) 28%
other 1%

1976: Last Democrat victory

Carter (D) 56%
Ford (R) 43%
other 1%

1980: Last close election (under 5%)

Reagan (R) 50%
Carter (D) 48%
other 2%